Four Brothers and a Bride-Chapter 119

ASHAL

The moment the words leave Demi’s lips, a startled hush falls over the dining room. We could have heard a pin drop at that moment. I press my eyes shut as memories of Olivia making a similar demand merely hours ago hits me.

She keeps trying to convince me that our separation would be the best thing for the baby. Every time I walk through the front door of the penthouse, she subtly reminds me that true love could be waiting for me outside. She demands to know if I have been trying to go on dates, if I have met anyone new. It’s sickening how eager she is to throw everything we once shared. It hurts to realize how easily she has moved on and how badly she wants me to move on too.

"Have you thought about it?" She had asked in between licking off some of the cake mix she was whisking. I am glad she feels stronger nowadays but it has its disadvantages. She’s got too much energy to discuss uncomfortable topics with me.

"Thought about what?" I asked, swirling wine in my glass.

"Our divorce. Are your lawyers drafting the papers?"

My fingers tightened around the stem of my glass. Slowly, I lifted my eyes to meet her hopeful ones. "You’re very eager to leave me, aren’t you?"

"Don’t be like that. I’m looking out for you and our baby. Delaying the inevitable won’t be good for either of you. Look at us right now. There’s hardly any tension. We can speak freely. I’ve been breathing easier lately and that’s all because I don’t feel the pressure of trying to pretend to be who you want me to be. This is all we were ever meant to be, Ashal; friends. Anything more would be forced. It’s already stolen two years of our lives. We can’t continue to trudge down that path."

I sipped my wine. "I need some time. I know you never felt anything for me but I do feel something for you. Suffice it to say that I am going through an emotional rollercoaster right now. There’s a lot of shit going on in my family too and I have to add my personal problems to the fray. It’s too much for me. I am going through heartbreak, a potential divorce and so much more." Angrily, I drained the rest of my glass.

Lily shuffled forward to do a refill when Olivia beat her to it. Meekly, Lily returned to her invisible spot by the kitchen wall.

"You need a distraction." Liv suggested, pouring me more wine. She smelt like cake. "That’s why I keep suggesting you find a new girl, someone to take the edge off. How about that Cree girl? Those pictures felt like sparks flew between you two."

I shook my head. "False sparks. She never really like me. I was just her meal ticket." That wasn’t entirely true.

"Ouch. Do you have anyone in mind that you like?"

Before I could stop it, Madeline’s image clouded my head. Immediately, I took another bracing gulp of my wine.

"Woah, easy." Liv said worriedly.

"I’ll talk to Elyon at work. He’s very good at organizing blind dates for me. Maybe I’ll just go on a few to see what happens."

"That sounds great." Liv added, rushing to continue her baking. "You never can tell what will happen. Madeline also put herself out there and now she’s got a new boyfriend."

A loud sound like tinnitus rung in my head. "She what?"

"After you saved her from that asshole, Hunter, I feared it would be difficult for her to give love another chance. You know she also suffered heartbreak with her ex, Carter. The proximity of all these hardships in her love life gave me cause for concern but luckily, I was worried for nothing. She told me the last time we spoke that she’s been talking to this new guy and he seriously wants to be her boyfriend."

If Liv hadn’t been busy rifling through the kitchen cabinets, searching for God knows what, she would have recognized the pure look of shock and constipation on my face. Is that why Maddi has been avoiding me? I wondered. She has refused to take my calls or texts despite how harmless they’ve been.

I sent her back to college and helped her family move on from that arranged marriage disaster like it never happened. What could I have done wrong to warrant the frostiness from Maddi? She hasn’t shown up in my office once to say thank you to me for saving her life. I was kind of counting on that as an excuse to see her again. When that didn’t happen, I broke character and called to see how she has been doing since she returned to school. There’s been no single reply from her. At some point, I thought she might have lost her phone or changed her number.

I gritted my teeth as I realized how fast everyone seemed to be moving on from me. I knew Maddi and I weren’t romantically involved but I thought the few moments that we shared (like the kiss in the car and at the hospital after I saved her from Hunter) meant something to her. Though she hadn’t allowed herself to voice it, her eyes were speaking volumes. Did she really go out there and get a new boyfriend? Why did she have to avoid me? I wouldn’t stop her so what’s with the weird energy? I continued to wonder.

Lily was watching me when I lifted my head. She made her way to me and raised the bottle to top my glass.

"Stop, Lily. He’s had enough." Liv cut in.

I closed my hand over the bottle, softly brushing Lily’s hand and poured the wine. "I’m not drunk enough. Everything still hurts."

I felt Lily’s breath hitch as our hands touched. Liv allowed her eyes to linger on our connected hands for a few seconds before she feigned indifference and prepped the oven. I finished the bottle of wine and to my surprise, Liv asked Lily to help me to my room even though I could manage just fine. When I threw her a glance, she had a thin smile on her face.

I woke up much later to find Lily in bed with me. We were both butt naked under the sheets. On the side drawer, there were cupcakes and a pitcher of orange juice with a note from Olivia that said, [No guilt necessary from now on. Hope you feel much better. Enjoy the treats.]

I blink as father’s voice cuts through my thoughts. We are still at the dining table with Demi’s shocking demand hanging thickly in the air. Demi pushes her chair back and stands.

"What divorce?" Father replies before Ashley can speak. He steeples his fingers and inclines his head. "You are not signing anything, Demi."

Demi’s eyes flash angrily. "You can’t keep me tethered to your son against my will."

"I beg to differ. I absolutely can. I have a document that states that you’re still Mrs. Ashley Rollins for the next six months. Though your current decision would have made me pop open my oldest wine in the cellar, I regret that the circumstances we find ourselves in leaves me no choice but to demand you uphold your end of the contract. You can’t divorce Ashley now, not in the midst of this chaos."

"A chaos HE created." Demi clarifies.

"Nevertheless, you owe him another six months. We need a mother for his child. After the contract expires, you will be free to go back to your plebian life. If you insist on walking away right now, I’ll get my legal team to slam you with charges for breach of contract and trust me, you won’t be done paying this family back even if you work your bones from now till you turn ninety. The choice is yours."

Horrified, Demi stares across the room as no one rises to defend her.

"You are all evil!" She shrieks before stomping away to the elevator.

"And...that right there is why the rich ought to marry their kind." Mila breaks the awkward silence.

"Exactly, my dear." Father toasts to her. Ashton looks disgusted with his fiancée.

"Ashley." Mother calls. "Go check on her. Make her understand."

Reluctantly, Ashley surges to his feet and goes after his wife. I stand up next and call it a night. I am sick of all the drama unfolding in my life. My whole world seems to be falling apart. Nothing makes sense anymore. I head to the movie room and slink into a padded chair. I have no intention to see a movie. I just want to sit in the dark for a bit and pray no one comes looking for me. It’s a shit show downstairs but another shit show is going on in my head too.

I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. Why does it matter so much that Maddi has a boyfriend now? What right do I have to be suspicious of how fast she found this guy or to think she’s using him to fend off whatever she must have felt between us over the last couple of weeks?

Why do I feel a flutter in my belly because she hasn’t told Liv anything that has transpired between us lately? Is that supposed to be a sign that she’s contemplating anything or that she’s trying to forget those golden moments we shared?

I jerk as a hand rests on my shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

I look up and wonder how Ashton found me. freewёbnoνel.com

"Yeah. I’m good." I sit upright while he settles down on the chair next to me. A tired breath whistles from his lip. "Hey, thanks for covering for me. Asher mentioned it."

"Not a problem."

From the corner of my eye, I can tell he’s watching me. "What’s uh...what’s going on down there?"

He inhales sharply. "Asher invited Anna over. He’s briefing her on the need to keep her mouth shut about Demi’s lost pregnancy and the new charade that Demi will be embarking on soon. Ashley is in a shouting match with his wife. Mother and father are having hushed conversations in his study. I think mother is trying to get father to develop a conscience for his daughter-in-law."

"Ha"

"My sentiments exactly." Ashton concurs with me.

"And your fiancée?"

"I sent her home in a car. I’ve had my fill of her ass licking for one day." We laugh to that. "So, I came to find you."

I bob my head. "You’ve got something on your mind. Spill it."

He sighs. "Asher mentioned a few things I must have missed these last few weeks. Ashal, I’m sorry I’ve been so busy chasing leads to our sister that I have totally neglected you."

"Don’t. We all have our different lives. You don’t owe me..."

"I do." He interjects. "I know we each get caught up sometimes but I hate to be absent especially in matters that involve you. You know how much I worry over you. You’re my baby brother..." He flashes his index finger in my face when I start to protest, "...and it’s my right to worry. Tell me everything I’ve missed and I swear, I won’t judge."

I take a good look at him. If I am not desperate to unpack everything I am feeling right now to retain a shred of my sanity, I probably won’t cave at this point. I go on to tell him everything I can, excluding my rioting feelings for Maddi.

"Liv wants a divorce too despite being pregnant? I’m so sorry man. That must be hard to endure alone."

"She literally dumped our maid on me today. She served us cupcakes in my bedroom while we were both spent from drunk sex. If that doesn’t tell you how DONE she is, I don’t know what does." I run a hand over my face. "I tried, Ashton. I really tried to be everything she wanted and more but somehow, the stars never aligned in our favor. I guess it’s true what they say; the heart wants what it wants. She has always been attracted to Asher and not me. Two years and a baby on the way later, none of that has changed."

"What are you going to do? Will you grant her the divorce as she asks? Will you find someone else to move on with?"

"I am too scared to think along those lines. The changes are too big. Liv is all I’ve known for the last two years. If I can’t see her at the penthouse anymore, I don’t know what my life will look like. Plus, being a dad scares me too. What if I suck at it? I know how much hell I’ve given father over what a shitty dad he was to us but what if my child feels the same way about me? How do I find the courage to search for a new love interest with all of this bullshit going on both in our family and in my personal life? It’s a whole lot!"

Ashton wraps an arm around me. "You’ll get through it. We’ve been through a lot of shocks this year so I believe we will also get through this one."

"Thanks, Ash." I exhale. "I want to give it a few months, probably till Liv has the baby before we go our separate ways. It felt good watching her bake cupcakes today in the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant. She was back to her bubbly self. Even if we’re nothing more than friends now, I want to savor that for as long as I can."

"And your love life? Would you really go on blind dates again? I think it won’t hurt to try. See how sparks flew with Cree. I don’t care if you go in search of someone that has Liv’s qualities as long as it’s a fresh face and a befitting woman. You’re too young to quit searching for true love."

It appears there’s a message within his message but I drown it out with a laugh.

"Duly noted, cupid." I reply.

I know Asher must have mentioned Madeline to him and as Ashton coaxes me to see a movie to distract us from our chaotic lives, I silently wonder why he didn’t bring her up.

***

Work feels like a chore the next day. I don’t have to be here. I am not in the right headspace right now but since I can’t be home or at the penthouse, this is my only escape hatch.

Asher released an official statement in the press after Nicola’s press release, confirming Demi’s pregnancy. Plans are already underway for Nicola’s unsuspicious disappearance from the public scene so she can have her baby on a remote island owned by my family. I scroll half-heartedly through the images taken of Demi in public with strategic hand placements on her belly. The comment section is filled with congratulatory messages.

I feel bad for her. She hates my family now for putting her through this wicked joke. She just lost her child and is forced to fake a pregnancy. That must be hard. My mind drifts to Liv. She took in around the time Demi did. Demi’s baby would have been born around the same time as mine.

I haven’t even told mother about Liv’s pregnancy and father hasn’t bothered to share with her. I don’t think she will be truly happy for me anyway. She never really fancied Liv and only accepted her out of pity for me. I bet she’s more than satisfied and occupied with Ashley’s yet to be born baby.

Additionally, her hands are full with Ashley’s wife and baby mama drama. It has never felt like the right time to tell her so I’ll keep mum for now till my baby is born. Maybe father will cut me some slack when I present my child along with my divorce agreement with Olivia.

Elyon walks into my office.

"How do you have enough free time to walk around?" I ask him. "I thought I delegated all my work today to you?"

"That you did but you also asked me to get you a fresh batch of blind dates." He responds gleefully. I think he is in the wrong profession given how good he is at arranging these dates and how much pleasure it brings him.

"Any luck?"

"Do I need one? Even if your family wasn’t trending on the news right now, I’d still get a tranche if applications without lifting a finger. You know you and Asher are the last bachelors among the famous Danvarr quads. I set up a poll and you would be surprised you had the highest vote as the brother most spinsters want to bang."

"Oh."

"Yeah. Asher is a hotshot but they don’t think he would give them the time of day after a one-night stand. You on the other hand, appear to be marriage material. You’ve got less drama and seem like a chill guy. They’re going crazy over you."

"Really?"

"Yep."

My eyes dart to my phone when a notification slides in. Maddi just posted on her socials. While half listening to Elyon read out details of my scheduled blind dates, I scroll to Maddie’s Instagram and clench my jaw at the sight of a guy-most likely her new boyfriend- kissing her neck. They’re out on a date.

"Are you listening?"

"Yeah." I lie, turning my phone screen down on the table.

For the next few minutes while Elyon tells me about his picks, all I can think about is the handsome stud with tattoos kissing Maddie’s neck. He looked like an ex-convict and is certainly way older than Maddi. What in the world was she thinking linking up with such a guy? Why is she devoted to making everyone so worried about her mental state?

Two hours later, I am packed in front of Maddie’s hostel, watching her smooch the guy in his car. This feels wrong, both my stalking and her new relationship.

I tighten my fingers around my steering when she gets down. She’s wearing a skirt that barely covers her thighs properly. When the man tries to grab her ass, she slaps his hand away and frowns at him. Before she can leave, he drags her like a doll and forces his lips on hers. His hand kneads her ass in the open. Maddi is clearly embarrassed and uncomfortable the whole time but she lets him.

It takes a lot of willpower not to intervene. The guy talks dirty to her as she hurries into her hostel with an embarrassed flush on her cheeks. Asshole. Even though she’s bad at picking men, I still don’t think she deserves to be treated like a whore. I grit my teeth as he reenters his car with a smug look on his face.

I don’t know how long I’ve been in my car but when my eyes flutter open, I am no longer at Maddie’s hostel. I am strangely parked on a lonely road. Rain is pattering down softly outside. It’s evening already. I rub my eyes and feel something weird on my hands. When I check, it’s dried blood. Through my rearview mirror, I gape in horror at the blood on my face.

"Shit."

I don’t remember anything. What did I do now? I get down from my car and scan the road. There’s no one, except a car poorly parked off the side of the road in front of me. My stomach drops as I instantly recognize it.

There’s no one inside when I go closer. My fingers are trembling now. Before rushing back into my car, I realize my trunk isn’t properly closed. Fearfully, I open it and just as I feared, there’s an unconscious man laying inside with bruises all over his face.

He’s got tattoos on his body.

He has no pulse!